Monday, October 29, 2012

Faculty News, October 29, 2012


Autrey Mill Faculty News    
October 29, 2012

“The only people who achieve much are those who want knowledge so badly that they seek it while the conditions are still unfavorable.  Favorable conditions never come.”

C.S. Lewis

 

News/Timelines/Due Dates

 Pride - This Friday, November 2nd we will have an advisement class for PRIDE.  Over the next few advisement classes we will be focusing on our community service project.  This year we will continue the theme focusing on Homelessness in our Community but will be partnering with North Fulton Community Charities.  This Friday will begin the introduction to the service project.

Shout out:  The 8th grade math department would like to give a “Shout Out” to Jenny Remer.  After signing up for Edmodo on the work day, Jenny made it a very useful resource for our 8-0 and 8-A students.  She uploaded video lessons for almost everything in our current unit and the previous unit.  She added worksheets, IXL and Khan Academy practices as well as posting our notes, reviews and keys.  We really appreciate all Jenny did to help us not only use Edmodo, but to make it a great learning tool for our students!!! 

Fall back:  This Saturday night, don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour!

 
Election Day – The only meetings planned for Election Day will take place from 11 to 12:30 in the cafeteria culminating with a lunch sponsored by our Korean Parents.  John White, from Lincoln Financial, will be here at the beginning of the meeting for any interested in hearing about the programs they offer.  Hours are flexible so if you choose to vote in the morning and stay later that is fine and vice versa.

 
Holiday Party – Go ahead and mark your calendar for the annual staff holiday party on December 13 at the Village Tavern.  Also, if you have yet to pay hospitality dues for this school year, please submit to Laura Hunter.

Planning Ahead – Some of you may have already noticed that the day we come back from winter break is a Friday, unfortunately.  I am sure there are many of us who would like to have that extra day, but it is a workday.  I will not be able to grant leave for that day.   The good news is that the recommended calendar for next year gives us a week at Thanksgiving and we come back on a Monday from winter break!!!

Where is Livingston?

Mandi Mitchell says, “IMarisa Wesker is an amazing teacher who constantly makes class fun and challenging for her students.  Her students from last year talk about how much they learned while having fun in her class.  She works hard as the social studies contact for our school.  She has taken on a number student teachers over the years, helping mold and mentor future teachers.  In the past, she also served in the capacity as one of the JCHS cheerleading coaches.  She recently created a fun enrichment table for her students for when they finish assignments early so that they don’t just sit around- what a great idea!  She is a GREAT team teacher with Kathleen Outlaw, having worked with Kathleen ever since she started at Autrey Mill.  Marisa is a caring teacher who invests time into her students inside and outside of class!”

Happy Birthday
Nan Flickinger           October 29 
Venne Brahmbhett    October 30
Kim Brill                    November 4

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Faculty News, October 22, 2012


Autrey Mill Faculty News    
October 22, 2012

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”

Robert F. Kennedy

 

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Pride – This Friday, October 26, we will not have PRIDE due to ITBS testing.  Please follow the regular Monday – Thursday schedule for 6th & 7th grades.  8th grade will continue to follow the ITBS testing schedule.  We will resume PRIDE next week with an advisement class.

Governance Council –     READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Calling all interested Teachers!

Help lead our school by running for a seat on the

School Governance Council

Autrey Mill is excited to be among the first schools to join Fulton Count Schools’ Charter System! As a Cohort 1 school, we are making the transition during this school year. Joining the Charter System means more flexibility and opportunities to implement creative, innovative reforms to help all of our students succeed.

As a Cohort 1 school, Autrey Mill will be electing and appointing representatives to our new School Governance Council this fall. The School Governance Council will play a critical role in the success of our school. The Council will develop and approve our strategic plan and budget, and design innovative solutions to increase academic achievement that meet the unique needs of our school community.

If you are interested in serving as a teacher representative on the School Governance Council, you must complete and submit the Candidate Declaration Form by October 31, 2012. This form can be found by going to our school website http://school.fultonschools.org/ms/autreymill/Pages/default.aspx and choosing the “Charter System Cohort 1 Implementation” button.

Don’t wait! Put your name on the ballot today!

 
Red Ribbon Week – Don’t forget that this takes place next week and that you can dress casual all week.

Election Day – The only meetings planned for Election Day will take place from 11 to 12:30 in the cafeteria culminating with a lunch sponsored by our Korean Parents.  John White, from Lincoln Financial, will be here at the beginning of the meeting for any interested in hearing about the programs they offer.  Hours are flexible so if you choose to vote in the morning and stay later that is fine and vice versa.

TAG probation - Now that the first quarter grades are in, TAG teachers need to make sure that they have taken care of any probation issues in LA, SCI, and SS.  Students must have above an 80% average.  If their average is below this mark, please fill out the attached forms and send them home to be signed.  When they are returned, place them in Dana’s box to be filed in their TAG folder.  If the grade is not up by the end of the semester, students will need a schedule change into on-level.  If you find you are in need of a schedule change, please give your grade level administrator ample warning to work that out.  At that time the dismissal form will need to be sent home. 

Holiday Party – Go ahead and mark your calendar for the annual staff holiday party on December 13 at the Village Tavern.  Also, if you have yet to pay hospitality dues for this school year, please submit to Laura Hunter.

Planning Ahead – Some of you may have already noticed that the day we come back from winter break is a Friday, unfortunately.  I am sure there are many of us who would like to have that extra day, but it is a workday.  I will not be able to grant leave for that day.   The good news is that the recommended calendar for next year gives us a week at Thanksgiving and we come back on a Monday from winter break!!!


Where is Livingston?

Vicki Alvis says, “I am passing Livingston on to Mandi Mitchell. Mandi is exceedingly generous of her time and talents as a social studies teacher, our school’s FCA sponsor and the eighth grade Student Council advisor. She has presented at the Georgia Council for the Social Studies conference and serves every year in a coaching capacity for our feeder high school. Mandi is a natural at getting students enthused about team-building and nurturing relationships. For the last five years it has been my great privilege to watch her interact with and challenge our Student Council representatives to work together to solve problems (like crossing a crocodile infested river with only two or three boards to stand on), as well as plan and follow through on projects that impact our whole school and community (like collecting Box Tops for education, seeing that Old Glory is raised and lowered every day of the school year and inspiring eighth graders to give up a weekend evening to participate in Relay for Life!) Mandi leads by example everyday both inside and outside the classroom. 

 

Happy Birthday
Julie Ferris                 October 2
Chris Shearer             October 26
Erin Villaume             October 26

Lane Arnold               October 27

Monday, October 15, 2012

Faculty News, October 15, 2012


Autrey Mill Faculty News    
October 15, 2012

“The biggest temptation is to settle for too little.”

Thomas Meton

 
News/Timelines/Due Dates

Pride – This Friday, October 19th will be a silent reading day in PRIDE.  As a heads up, PRIDE will not meet on October 26th due to ITBS testing.  We will return to PRIDE on Friday, November 2nd with an advisement class.

Yearbook – The yearbook staff really appreciates the help from the club sponsors in scheduling photo times for your group.  If you have not returned your club information, please put it in Dana Griffin’s box this week.  We will look over your suggestions and contact you about the date we can attend your meeting for photos.  Thank you!

Governance Council –

Calling all interested Teachers!

Help lead our school by running for a seat on the

School Governance Council

Autrey Mill is excited to be among the first schools to join Fulton Count Schools’ Charter System! As a Cohort 1 school, we are making the transition during this school year. Joining the Charter System means more flexibility and opportunities to implement creative, innovative reforms to help all of our students succeed.

As a Cohort 1 school, Autrey Mill will be electing and appointing representatives to our new School Governance Council this fall. The School Governance Council will play a critical role in the success of our school. The Council will develop and approve our strategic plan and budget, and design innovative solutions to increase academic achievement that meet the unique needs of our school community.

If you are interested in serving as a teacher representative on the School Governance Council, you must complete and submit the Candidate Declaration Form by October 31, 2012. This form can be found by going to our school website http://school.fultonschools.org/ms/autreymill/Pages/default.aspx and choosing the “Charter System Cohort 1 Implementation” button.

Don’t wait! Put your name on the ballot today!

 
Where is Livingston?

Leslie Samford states, “With much love and appreciation this week’s Livingston award goes to Sra. Vicki  Alvis.  Vicki is a “rock” for so many of us.  She is a team leader and has been a Student Council advisor for the last 5 years where she has headed up food drives and community service projects.  Vicki  is National Board certified and has presented at both state and national Spanish conferences.  She  continues to be a “lifelong learner” in her foreign language field.”

 

Happy Birthday
Dave Colvin               October 15
Kathy Nagle               October 16

 

 

 

 

 

Monday, October 8, 2012

Faculty News, October 8, 2012


 

Autrey Mill Faculty News    
October 8, 2012

“Appreciative words are the most powerful force for good on earth.”

George W. Crane

 

News/Timelines/Due Dates

Pride – This Friday, October 12 will be an advisement class for PRIDE.  Students will be continuing getting to know you activities while learning about themselves and others.  6th Grade will be continuing part 2 of the lesson that was started 2 weeks ago involving establishing norms and what it means to be a part of a community.  7th Grade will also be continuing part 2 of the lesson about personality types.  8th Grade has a new lesson/activity this week getting to know their peers and what they are all about through a “Question Quilt”. 

Seventh Grade PRIDE teachers – Please make sure you return the personality code sheets and the personality packets you will receive this week to Lizzie Haber at the conclusion of the lesson.  These need to be stored for next year.

Looking ahead…Friday, October 19 is a silent reading day.  Remind your students at the end of the lesson this week to bring a silent reading book next week.

Workday- We will have a full morning of meetings on the October 15 workday.  The meeting will begin promptly at 8:45 and will end at noon.

Announcement:  Connections/PE will be hosting a faculty breakfast on Monday, October 15 (Teacher Workday).  Look for an invite later this week with the details.

Take pictures for yearbook – A cool way to help the yearbook staff… If you have an IPhone or an Android phone, you can download a free App called ReplayIt.  With this App, you can take pictures with your phone and upload them to our yearbook site.  Just choose our school from the list and the category where you would like to place it.  So easy!  Thanks for your help with getting classroom pics or activities off-site.  7th grade is especially hard for us to get, so we appreciate all the help we can get.

Attendance verifications - In your mailbox, you will find the second Verification of Attendance by Classroom Teacher form.  Please run the process and turn in the form by the noted time and date.  FYI You cannot run the process until after 4:00 p.m. on Monday, October 8, 2012.  Due Date is Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.

Please remember to enter grades, publish items/assignments and scores/grades.  Our parents are now checking HAC more than ever.  Debra will be placing “FINAL” FTE worksheets in the applicable teachers’ (TAG; SEC) mailboxes sometime this week.  More information to come.

Where is Livingston?

Carolyn Grimaldi and Betsy Jacks state, “We would like to give the Livingston award to Leslie Samford.  Leslie Samford brings a fun-loving, energetic personality to AMMS and uses it create a great environment to educate her students.  When she’s not caring for her six grandchildren (two who came in one month!!), Leslie is a very dedicated Student Council sponsor,  Relay for Life organizer and participant, and even finds time to attend the activities and sporting events of current and former students .  She goes above and beyond in investing in students’ lives.  She also provides assistance to her peers..for example, helping to “wean” Michael Harrell from his IT days back to the classroom!

 
Happy Birthday
Gayla Payne               October 11
Mao Lai                      October 13